Container and dispensing device therefor



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Nov. 29, 1938. G. o. CONNER CONT AINER AND DISPENSING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed July' 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l J F v g, i w... L m wm 7 8 I OINVIENTOR III! ' iiearch Ficom 222-.- DISPENSING.

NOV; 1933- G. o. CONNER I CONTAINER AND DISPENSING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed July 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H j H l l INVENTOR 4 6 Q wwi d.

DISPENSING.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER AND DISPENSING DEVICE THEREFOR Guy 0. Conner, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Application July 1, 1936, Serial No. 88,377

1 Claim.

This invention relates to containers and dispensing devices therefor. It relates more particularly to shipping and dispensing containers such as may conveniently be used for the shipping and dispensing of beverages. Such containers are equipped with dispensing devices such as spigots to assist in dispensing their contents. I have provided an improved dispensing device in the nature of a spigot and an improved shipping and dispensing container which facilitate attachment of the dispensing device to the container and dispensing of the contents thereof.

The dispensing device is provided with means for attaching it to the container, such means being maintained in place on the dispensing device whereby to obviate the chance of misplacing or losing the same. This is preferably accomplished by confining the attaching or connecting means between portions of the dispensing device, as will presently appear.

I also provide for dispensing the contents of the container either through the top or through the body of the container. The container may be positioned either upright or on its side for dispensing its contents. Substantially complete emptying of the container is provided for. The container also has certain other novel features of design and construction which will be explained below.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in central vertical cross section, through a shipping and dispensing container;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a portion of the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of the container shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a dispensing device; and

Figure 5 is a central cross-sectional view showing the dispensing device of Figure 4 applied to the container of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a container designated generally by reference numeral 2 having a generally cylindrical body portion 3, a bottom 4 and a top 5. The container is shown as being made out of sheet metal, the body 3 and bottom 4 being seamed together at 6 and the top 5 being applied by means of an attaching band 1, which may be of any desired construction. Such band cooperates with the top 5 and with a wire bead 8 forming the rim of the container in accordance with usual practice. A gasket 9 is interposed between the sealing portion of the top 5 and the wire bead 8.

The container is provided adjacent its top and bottom, respectively, with reinforcing or rolling rings l and l I. These rings are preferably drawn into the body 3 during its formation. A handle I2 is connected with the body 3 at each side of the container by means of a strap I3 spot welded to the body as shown at I.

The top of the container is formed with a depressed portion l5 from which extends upwardly a neck or flange I6 having its outer surface screw threaded for the reception of a threaded cap l1. When the cap I] is screwed down on the neck I 6 its upper surface lies within the confines of the top 5 whereby to permit stacking of the containers.

The body 3 is provided with an inwardly depressed portion H3 at which there is an opening I9 surrounded by an outwardly drawn neck 20 of the material of the body. Surrounding the neck 20 is a ferrule 2|, preferably of sheet metal and having an outer threaded portion or skirt 22 for the reception of a screw cap 23. The outer extremity of the neck 20 is turned outwardly as shown at 24 to maintain the ferrule 2| in' place. Also the outer extremity of the neck where it is turned outwardly at 24 serves as a sealing point against which the gasket 25 inside the cap 23 engages to prevent leakage. The outlet structure is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 103,312, filed September 30, 1936.

The opening in the top of the container and that in its body are preferably of the same size so that a dispensing device may be connected with either thereof selectively. Thus the contents of the container may be dispensed with the container in upright position as shown in Figure 1 or with the container lying on its side. When the container is in upright position the opening in its body is used for dispensing, while when it is in position on its side the opening in the top is The ring intersects the depressed portion l8, thereby assisting in strengthening the container at such portion. Adjacent such portion the ring is inclined toward the bottom of the container as shownat 28 so as to provide a sufflciently continuous rolling surface. Thus the container can be rolled on the rings l8 and II despite the presence of the depressed portion I8.

In Figures 4 and 5 is shown a dispensing device designated generally by reference numeral 23 and comprising a hollow body 30 having an axiallyextending passage 3| and an outwardly projecting annular flange 32 adjacent one end thereof. The flange 32 has connected with it a gasket 33 and is adapted to cooperate with the outer surface of the neck 20 of the container to effect a seal therewith. A longitudinally projecting por- The body so is provided with a fluid outlet is communicating with the passage 3|, the flow of fluid through the body being controlled by a valve designated generally by reference numeral 36 and comprising a stem 31 and a handle 38. Connected with the inner end of the stem 31 by means of a screw 39 is a gasket or washer 40. Such gasket or washer is adapted to seat against a shoulder 4| formed within the hollow body 30. The stem 31 is threaded as shown at 4| and the body 30 is similarly threaded so that upon turning of the valve it will move axially of the body to shut oil or control the flow of fluid through the passage 3| and the outlet 35.

There is also provided a separate connecting member 42 in the form of an annulus or ring and which has an internally threaded portion 43 for threading onto the externally threaded portion 22 of the ferrule 2|. The member 42 also has an inward projection or flange 44 adapted to cooperate with the flange 32 of the body 30 to hold and press the same against the container. The assembly of the parts is clearly shown in Figure 5.

When the valve 38 is in place as shown in Figure 5 the member 42 is maintained on the body of the dispensing device between the valve andthe flange 32 so that the member 42 cannot come off or become lost or misplaced. If it should be desired to remove the member 42 this can easily be done by first screwing out the valve so that the member 42 can be taken of! the valve end of the hollow body 38.

An apertured tab 45 is attached to the outside of the container in fixed position adjacent the opening l9 and the cap 23 is provided with a cross piece 46 riveted to the cap at 41 and having apertured extremities 48. The tab 45 is flexible so that when the cap 23 is applied and screwed up one of the apertured extremities 48 of the cross piece 46 may be aligned with the tab 45, the tab bent upwardly and inwardly to be superimposed upon such extremity 48 and a wire or other suitable seal passed through the openings in the tab 45 and the extremity 48 to prevent removal of the cap 23 without breaking the seal. The same provision may, of course, be made with respect to the closure at the top of the container.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A container having a generally cylindrical body portion having an inward depression and provided with a dispensing opening within such depression, the container having an outwardly drawn strengthening orrolling ring extending substantially 'therearoundat the zone oi said depression whereby to strengthen the container adjacent the depression and provide for rolling the same despite the presence of said depression, said ring intersecting the depression and being interrupted thereat.

GUY O. CONNER. 

